And with the Memorial Day weekend coming right up, she had a few thoughts (courtesy of Sony Nashville) on what the day means to her.

“I know Memorial Day weekend is such a special time to celebrate with your friends and your family and veterans and people that are still serving in the military,” says Kellie. And it’s really just about celebrating our freedom and celebrating how we got freedom. It didn’t come free, that’s for sure.”

She also explains why Memorial Day is such and important time and why we should not miss an opportunity to say “thank you.”

“Anytime I see someone in the airport or at the grocery store or anywhere and they’re in uniform, it really means a lot just to go up and say ‘thank you.’ I get asked all the time, ‘Well, you know, I don’t know how to…you know, I can’t go to Afghanistan, and I don’t…what can I do?’ And it’s small things like saying ‘thank you’ that make the biggest difference because it shows appreciation, and it shows that you respect what they’re doin’.”

“Regardless if you agree or disagree with what’s goin’ on, it’s wrong to not say ‘thank you’ and give ’em a hug and let ’em know that you appreciate what they’re doin’.”